Loom



Nov. 18, 1941- L. M. VALENTINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l LOOM Filed Aug. 2, 1940INVENTOR. Z aZen iz'ne Nov. 18,1941. A TIN 2,263,148

LOOM

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v IN E TOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1941. N IN 2,263,148

LOOM

Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Nov. 18, 1941.

L.' M. VALENTINE LOOM ' Filed Aug. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q. a.. QQL

a side, which for convenience, will be Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE LOOM Linden Morgan Valentine, Pelham, N. Y.

Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,723

9 Claims. (Cl. 139-13) This invention relates to the art of textilemanufacture and more particularly to loom construction and shuttlemanipulation of the general nature as but improvement over my priorPatent Number 2,144,947, of January 24, 1939, with specific applicationto circular looms.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved circular loomwherein a multiple transition of shuttles around the loom may besimultaneously in operation; to positively and continuously feed theshuttlesaround the loom all at the same speed at the same time; toprovide for multiple and continuously progressive shedding of the warpthreads in synchronism with advancement of the respective shuttles ineach shed; to provide a circular loom which will permit laying of aplurality of weft threads at one time and at short intervals around theloom; to actuate the several shuttles in their circular orbit withgreater rapidity than heretofore possible; to enable a sturdy, effectiveand readily accessible assembly of parts to be employed for actuatingthe shuttles and for actuating the heddles; to utilize the shuttlesupporting means or reeds also for guiding and actuating purposes; tosecure simplicity of construction and opera.- tion; and to obtain otheradvantages and results as may be brought out in the followingdescription.

Referring to the several accompanying drawings in which like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a circular loom embodying my invention,looking at the same from the front;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional view drawn to larger scale thanFigure 1 and broken away substantially at the vertical center;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the vertically grooveddrum;

Figure 4a is a similar perspective view, but showing a modifiedconstruction of drum and cams;

Figure 5 is a detail plan of a portion of the heddle cams and associatedparts;

Figure 6 is a plan of theshuttle supporting and operating means;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic or developed elevational view illustratingthe forward movement of the shuttles and the corresponding relationshipof the shuttles and reeds or actuating members;

Figure 8 is asimilar view on increased scale termed over Figure 7 andshowing the tail end of a shuttle and reeds effective thereat;

Figure 9 is a horizontal section on line 9- of Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation of one of the supporting reeds, and

Figure 11 is a similar elevation of one of the upper reeds.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in saiddrawings, the loom comprises in general a lower portion wherein aresituated a circular series of horizontally disposed and radiatingheddles. ,Above this lower portion in axial alinement therewith but ofconsiderably smaller diameter are the reed-supporting and reed-operatingmeans. The warp threads feed upwardly and the fabric is formed at theoutside of said reed-supporting and reed-operating means as a tube.Description will first be made of the lower or heddle portion of themachine.

The heddle portion of the machine comprises four concentric ringssituated about a common vertical axis. There is considerable distanceradially between each successive ring. The innermost ring 20 and theoutermost ring 2| are each rotatable, whereas the other two rings 22 and23 are fixed. Any suitable supports 24 may be provided to support therotatable rings, said supports being here shown as having socketed upperends for receiving the lower edges of said rin s therein. Other supports25 are provided torreceive and support the fixed rings 22 and 23.

It will be observed that the several rings 20, 2!, 22 and 23 arecylindrical so as to be upstanding on their lower edges. Each fixed ringsupports a pair of horizontally disposed fixed annular plates; thus fromthe inner one 22 of the intermediate fixed rings extend an upper fixedplate 26 and a lower fixed plate 21, and from the outer one 23 of theintermediate fixed rings extend an upper fixed plate 28 and a lowerfixed plate 29. The respective upper fixed plates 26 and 28 are in acommon plane, whereas the re.- spective lower fixed plates 21 and 29 arein a common plane at a distance below the plane of the upper fixedplates. Furthermore, the fixed plates 26 and 21 from the inner fixedring extend in a direction inwardly therefrom to adjacent the innermostrotatable ring 20; whereas the fixed plates 28 and 29 from the outerfixed ring extend in a direction outwardly therefrom to adjacent theoutermost rotatable ring 21. Appropriate ledges are formed on orattached to the fixed rings for supporting the fixed plates next a periperal marg thereof. Sc ews or other suitable means are preferably used tosecure the plates to the ledges. The upper face of each of thehorizontally disposed fixed plates has evenly spaced radially extendinggrooves throughout. The grooves are situated and related so that eachgroove of one plate is alined with a corresponding groove in the otherplate in the plane therewith. Preferably the alined grooves of the upperpair of plates are staggered with respect to the alined grooves of thelower pair of plates. The grooves form guiding slideways for bar-likeheddles end portions of which always remain in the grooves of alinedpairs of the grooves. Thus the midportion of the heddles are alwaysspanning the space intervening between the fixed rings 2| and 23.

The heddles are each horizontally flattened for short lengths thereof,as at 3|, and perforated thereat to pass the warp threads slidablytherethrough and enable the several warp threads to be swung back andforth for tenting the same as the heddles slide back and forth. Next theends of the heddles as part thereof, are upstanding lugs 32 which arethe only parts of the heddles which project above the grooved surface ofthe plates.

Immediately above the fixed plates 26, 21, 28 and 29 are rotatable camplates 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively which are annular and extendsubstantially from the rotatable ring to the nearest fixed ring. Thesecam plates have appropriate endless cam grooves therein receiving thelugs of the heddles therein. As the cam plates rotate, the cam groovesfunction to reciprocate the heddles successively and progressively tentthe warp threads as a continuous operation. The cam plates as here shownare secured by screws or otherwise, to cam-supporting, annular plates31, 38, 39 and 40 respectively, each flatwise of and immediately aboveits respective cam plate. Each cam plate and its supporting plate is ineffect a unitary structure, being fabricated in parts and securedtogether as described as a manufacturing expedient. Appropriate ledgesare formed on or attached to the upstanding rotatable rings and 2| forsupporting the cam plates and cam-supporting plates therefrom. Anysuitable means, such as screws, attach the cam-supporting plates totheir respective ledges,

and thus the cam plates will rotate with the rotatable rings and obtainthe sliding of heddles as above described. Said fixed rings arevertically slotted downwardly from their upper edges, as at 4|, 42respectively, to pass the heddles therethrough.

The innermost rotatable ring 20 has an annular rack 43 on its innerperiphery with which meshes a pinion 44 by which the ring is actuatedcontinuously in one direction. Likewise the outer rotatable ring 2| hasan annular rack 45 on its outer periphery with which meshes a pinion 46by which that ring is also actuated continuously in the same directionas the first. The gear ratio of the driving gears (not shown) isproperly proportioned to cause both rotatable rings to make the samenumber of revolutions during operation.

Seated for support on the upper edge of the inner fixed ring 22 is anaxially vertical reed cylinder 50. This-cylinder in its preferredconstruction has vertical grooves 5| in its outer cylindrical surfaceand corresponding inner grooves 52 vertically on the cylindrical innersurface. Each groove for a lower portion thereof is slotted through, at53, to the corresponding groove on the other face of the cylinder. Thereare just as many grooves on the outer surface as on the inner surfaceand the grooves are directly opposed.

Outer reeds 54 are situated in and vertically slidable in the severalouter grooves whereas inner reeds 55 are situated in and verticallyslidable in the inner grooves. All said reeds have lateral portionsextending therefrom at their lower ends each in a radial direction withrespect to the cylinder and protruding outwardly from the cylinder. Thelateral portions 56 of the outer reeds have their outer ends toeddownward at 51 and are shorter than the lateral portions 58 of the innerreeds. The lateral portion 58 of each inner reed provides two upstandingears 59, 59 thereon suitably spaced to accommodate the width dimensionof a shuttle 60 therebetween. The'lateral portions 58 of the severalreeds 55 function to support the shuttle when thereover, and the saidears guide the shuttle in a circular orbit around the cylinder. Thedownwardly directed toes 51 of the lateral portions 56 of the outerreeds are substantially midway between and above the ears of the lowerlateral portions 58 of the inner reeds so as to engage in a longitudinaldepression at the top of the shuttle 60 next the ends thereof. The endsof the shuttle are rounded or otherwise tapered for enabling theportions of the reed engaging behind the shuttle to squeeze it forward.The squeezing action introduces a moment of force in a directionlongitudinal of the shuttle which thereby supplies the forwardactuation.

Fitting rotatably around said grooved cylinder for approximately theupper half thereof is an outer cylindrical cam 62 having an endless camgroove 63 therearound. The outer reeds 54 project under the said camentirely within the Vertical grooves 5| except for a lug 64 on each reednear the upper end thereof, said lug projecting outwardly into said camgroove 63. As the cam 62 rotates, the reeds will have longitudinalmovement with respect to the cylinder in accordance with thedisplacement necessitated for the lug to follow the cam groove.Similarly an inner cylindrical cam 65 fits rotatably next the innercylindrical surface of the grooved reed cylinder 50 and provides anendless cam groove 66 therearound. The inner reeds 55 project under saidcam entirely within the vertical grooves except for a lug 61 on eachreed near the upper end thereof. These lugs project into the cam groove66 and thus, with the cam groove, control the movement of the reeds. Thecam grooves are shaped to actuate the reeds to afford space for theseveral shuttles, to open a path for the shuttles as they advance, tosqueeze the shuttles forward, and to beat the weft into the fell of thefabric.

For ease in manufacture, separate parts may be provided upon which tomount the cam cylinders. As here shown, an outer sleeve 68 is at theupper and outside part of the outer cam, with the parts of the camscrewed or otherwise attached thereto. Similarly the inner cam ismounted on a sleeve 69 at the inside of the cam. At the top of eachsleeve is attached a rack 10, H each of which has been here shown asshouldered to sli-dably ride on a circular track 12 secured to the topof the grooved or reed cylinder 50. It will be remembered that the saidreed cylinder is fixed, and so said track 72 is likewise fixed, but theracks, cam cylinders and sleeves are all rotatable and in use have asteady continuous rotation with'both cams 62 and 65' making thesamdnumber of revolutions. Gears 13, T4 in mesh with racks '70, H andhaving proper ratio to give equal revolution of the cams, are carriedupon and fixed to a cross-shaft 15 to operate the rotatable parts andthereby obtain sliding motion for the reeds. As indicated moreespecially in Figure 1', said shaft is connected through suitabledriving parts to any appropriate source of power (not shown). It is tobe understood that the drive for the heddle cams and drive for the reedcams are interconnected and synchronized.

If so desired, all of the reeds may be situated in grooves on the outersurface of the grooved cylinder. Such arrangement is shown in Figure 4awhich shows grooved cylinder 50a vertically grooved at 5| a on its outersurface only. Reeds 54 as heretofore described ride in every alternategroove 5la, said reeds having lateral outwardly projecting portions 56and toed ends 51 as previously described. In the intervening grooves 5mride reeds 55a very similar to previously described reeds 55. Theyprovide lateral shuttle-supporting portions 58a and upstanding guidingears 59 as before. But instead of passing through a slot in the reedcylinder, they are in outer grooves and are inserted under an outer camcylinder 62a. This cam cylinder has one cam groove 66a to receiveoutwardly projecting lugs 61a on these shuttle-supporting reeds, andanother cam groove 63a for receiving the lugs 64 of the previouslydescribed reeds 54. The modified structure necessarily reduces thepossible number of reeds to one half of the possible number in thepreferred construction. As many reeds as possible are preferred sincethey afford a better support and actuation for the shuttle and betterbeating of the weft into the fell.

In any event, a plurality of continuously progressing shuttlesareprovided for simultaneous operation, and between each shuttle the camgrooves cause the reeds to rise and. carry the weft into the fell, thereeds overlying the shuttle passing inside the tubular-formed fabric 16and the reeds by which the shuttles are supported functioning as theheaters. A loom such as shown having six shuttles will accordingly addsix weft threads to the fell with each complete revolution of the camcylinders and shuttles. It is also to be noted that the shuttles arealways at a constant level, supported and actuated only by the reeds andsituated at readily accessible positions to the operator.

I claim:

1. A circular loom comprising a longitudinally grooved cylinder, aplurality of shuttles having orbital paths of transition around thecylinder, a plurality of reeds one in each of said grooves and slidablelongitudinally thereof, said reeds each having a lateral projection atone end extending outward from said cylinder for engagement with apassing shuttle, said reeds comprising two series of which theprojections of one series are longer than the projections of the otherseries and underlie and cross entirely beneath the shuttle, and theprojections of the other series are shorter than those of the firstseries and overlie and partly cross the shuttle, and means for slidingthe reeds and squeezing the rear of the shuttles for advancing theshuttles simultaneously and continuously around the cylinder.

2. A circular loom comprising a longitudinally grooved cylinder, aplurality of shuttles having orbital paths of transition around'thecylinder and forming a tubular woven fabric surrounding the upper partof said cylinder, a plurality of reeds one in each of said grooves andslidable longitudinally thereof, said reeds each having a lateralprojection at one end extending outward from said cylinder forengagement with a passingshuttle, part of said projections underlyingand part overlying the shuttle, all of said projections being movableupwardly between shuttles transversely to the woven fabric as far as thefell of the fabric, and means for successively sliding reeds inengagement at the rear of the shuttles to lessen the space between theoverlying and underlying projections and thereby squeezing the shuttlesforwardly.

3. A circular loom comprising a longitudinally grooved cylinder, aplurality of shuttles having orbital paths of transition around thecylinder for weaving a tubular fabric therearound, a plurality of reedsone in each of said grooves and slidable longitudinally thereof, saidreeds each having a lateral projection at one end extending outward fromsaid cylinder for engagement with a passing shuttle, part of saidprojections under lying and part overlying the shuttle, means forsliding the reeds and squeezing the rear of the shuttles for advancingthe shuttles simultaneously and continuously around the cylinder, andsaid means also elevating between shuttles the underlying reedprojections with said projections continuously beneath and advancing theweft thread toward the woven fabric for beating the weft into the fell.

4. A circular loom comprising a longitudinally grooved cylinder, aplurality of shuttles having orbital paths of transition around the[cylinder for weaving a tubular fabric therearound, a plurality of reedsone in each of said grooves and slidable longitudinally thereof, saidreeds each having a lateral projection at one end extending outward fromsaid cylinder for engagement with a passing shuttle, part of saidprojections underlying and part overlying the shuttle, the underlyingreeds having upstanding ears for guiding the shuttles in their orbitalpaths the overlying projections being engageable with the shuttle and ofa length less than the underlying projections and adapted to moveupwardly within the formed tubular fabric, and means for squeezing therear of the shuttles for actuating said'shuttles simultaneously andcontinuously around the cylinder.

5. A circular loom comprising a cylinder longitudinally grooved insideand out, a shuttle having an orbital path around the cylinder, a set ofreeds in the inside grooves and a set of reads in the outside grooves,one set of said reeds having lateral extensions for underlying saidshuttle and the other set having lateral extensions overlying saidshuttle, and means for sliding said reeds and progressively squeezingthe extensions of one set toward the extensions of the other set foradvancing the shuttle therebetween.

6. A circular loom according to claim 5 wherein said means comprises apair of cylindrical cams, one inside and one outside of the groovedcylinder.

7. A circular loom according to claim 5 wherein said means comprises apair of cylindrical cams, one inside and one outside of the groovedcylinder, a circular rack on each cylindrical cam, and a gear in meshwith each rack and rotating said cylindrical cams with the same numberof revolutions each.

8. A circular loom comprising a cylinder longitudinally grooved on oneof its cylindrical surfaces, a shuttle having an orbital path around thecylinder, two sets of reeds in said grooves every alternate reed havingan extension therefrom underlying the shuttle and constituting one ofsaid sets, and the intervening reeds constituting the other set andhaving extensions overlying said shuttle, extensions of said interveningset of reeds being shorter than the extensions of the alternate reedsfor enabling the shorter extensions to pass the fell of the fabric andthe longer extensions to beat the fell into place in the fabric, andmeans for actuating reeds of one set toward reeds of the other set forsqueezing and thereby advancing the shuttle.

9. A circular loom in accordance with claim 8 wherein the grooves are onthe outside of the cylinder and wherein said means comprises a camcylinder having two continuous cam grooves, one for actuating each setof reeds.

LINDEN MORGAN VALENTINE.

